Recap: Sea Dogs lose 6-1

FINAL: Cape Breton 6, Saint John 1

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

SAINT JOHN - The Cape Breton Eagles, who have struggled to score goals of late, had little trouble scoring in the third period on Monday, leading the team to a 6-1 victory over the Saint John Sea Dogs at TD Station.

The Eagles scored five times in the third period (with one being an empty netter) to break a 1-1 tie. The game-winner, which came just 36 seconds into the third, was scored during a five-on-three power play.

Monday's third period was the exact opposite of Sunday's game, which saw the Sea Dogs defeat the Charlottetown Islanders 5-2. Saint John killed off six minutes worth of penalties to start off the third and then scored three times to earn the victory.

Brayden Schmitt, Cam MacDonald, Olivier Houde, Luke Patterson, Cam Squires and Callum Aucoin all scored for Cape Breton. Jakub Milota made 26 saves in the win.

Vince Elie scored Saint John's lone goal. Justin Robinson made 26 saves in the loss.

The Eagles opened the scoring at 11:55 of the second period when Schmitt pinched in from the blue line and threw the puck on net where it was pushed through a scramble and then the pads of Robinson. The play was reviewed but called a good goal.

Saint John tied it just 33 seconds later — or so they thought. Danny Akkouche had the puck behind the goal line and found an open Noah Reinhart in front who netted his ninth of the season. The play was also reviewed and was called back due to a high stick on the play.

The Sea Dogs went to a power play at 12:56 and would tie things up this time. Elie received a bouncing puck at the blue line, got around an Eagles defender and beat Milota with a backhand shot at 13:38.

Peter Reynolds took a hooking penalty and Nate Tivey was called for a slash on the same play at 19:49 of the second period. Just 36 seconds into the third, MacDonald put in a rebound to give Cape Breton a 2-1 lead. Then, at even strength, Houde scored from the slot at 2:06 to quickly make it 3-1.

Patterson made it 4-1 at 12:07, getting around a Saint John defender at the blue line before firing a perfect shot top corner on Robinson.

The Sea Dogs had some chances late in the game — including some on a power play — but could not connect. Squires scored into an empty net with 3:13 remaining and Aucoin scored with 27 seconds remaining to make it a 6-1 final.

LINEUP

Simek - Reynolds - Mateiko

Akkouche - Elie - Reinhart

Benoit - Beveridge - Bellemare

Calder - Beaulieu - Thifault

Tivey - Mann

Bilodeau - Gauthier

MacLean - Ianniello

Amyot

Robinson

Beaulieu

SCRATCHES: The Sea Dogs were without forwards Nico Laforge (healthy), Kency Pierre-Noel (healthy) and Francis Woods (healthy) along with defensemen Tristan Dassylva (healthy) and Benjamin Amyot (healthy).

TAYLOR'S GAME: This game featured the much hyped Taylor Swift impersonator performing before the game and at both intermissions.

The Taylor Swift show has begun at TD pic.twitter.com/SzmJNC7tPt

— Jamie Tozer (@station_nation) November 13, 2023

giving you, my followers, the content you come here for pic.twitter.com/jmkPEauc82

— Jamie Tozer (@station_nation) November 13, 2023

NOTES: The Sea Dogs wore their black third jerseys for a second straight game... this was Saint John's final home game until Nov. 25... Luke Patterson's goal was his first of the season... Saint John argued that they had scored on a scramble with 7:13 remaining in the third. After review, it was determined that the whistle had blown... Peter Reynolds and Pavel Simek each had four shots... Saint John struggled on faceoffs, which ended 34-24 in favour of Cape Breton... attendance was 3,790, Saint John's second largest home crowd of the season.

HIGHLIGHTS

NEXT GAME: The Sea Dogs travel to Baie-Comeau to face the Drakkar on Thursday at 8 p.m.